Serial number: 94158

Year shipped: 1937

FON:

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo (lacks a dot over the letter ‘i’)

Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and narrow block inlays from the first fret. Wide neck heel

Body: 17-inch body with maple back and sides and large bound f-holes. Natural finish. Has 1 1/8 written on the label 

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including hinged tailpiece with silver centre insert and three engraved diamonds and Grover Imperial tuners. Rosewood bridge

Notes: Pickguard is a replica and the neck has been refinished

This guitar is one of 7 Natural Advanced L-5s shipped in 1937 (the guitar is described in Gibson’s ledgers (see image below) as ‘spl (special) color’. It is likely that this refers to the fact that the Natural finish option was not officially available until 1939.

Images courtesy of Timo Koskinen